Svoboda reopens Czech embassy, meets civil administrator on visit to Baghdad

The foreign minister, Cyril Svoboda, has reopened the Czech embassy in Baghdad. Mr Svoboda also held talks with the American civil administrator of Iraq, Paul Bremer, who praised the Czech government for the part it is playing in the reconstruction of the country. Mr Svoboda was also due to visit Basra on Saturday and to meet members of a Czech military field hospital based in the city. On Sunday the foreign minister is moving on to Israel, where he will meet Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and other senior Israeli officials.

Meanwhile the Czech Catholic Charity Association has sent a tonne and a half of medicines to Iraq. The medicines, mainly antibiotics and vitamins for children, were flown to Basra on Friday night in a Defence Ministry plane.